Noticeboard

APRIL 2017 - We are aware that patients are currently experiencing difficulties in accessing GP appointments; this is due to ongoing sickness.

We are making every effort to increase availability by engaging locum GPs where possible and ask you to bear with us during this difficult time.

We are also aware that this has affected the availability of online appointments for which we apologise. We have made changes which will hopefully have rectified this problem going forward.

Change of Training GPs

Dr Sarah Shooter has now completed her GP Training and will be leaving us on Friday 24th November. We wish her well in her future career.

As we are a training practice it means we will be welcoming a new GP Registrar in her place. This training is an essential part of the Doctors transition from Hospital to General Practice.

Dr Gemma Brierley will join us on Monday 28th November for continuation of her training.

MESSAGE FROM THE DOCTORS

The Doctors have requested that our reception staff ask you for a brief reason for your appointment, including when booking online. This is to assist you in accessing the most appropriate service. They will also ask you for your preferred contact number. We do appreciate the difficulties patients face in the current climate when all our available appointments have been taken. We would kindly ask you to consider other options recommended such as GP appointments at the extended hours service at Bath Street, Widnes walk-in centre, your local pharmacy and Bath Street Wellbeing Centre for family planning and sexual health. The receptionists will have details regarding these servcies. I would remind you that we provide 4 extended hours clinics each week on Monday and Wednesday until 8.30 in the evening. You can also access a range of services including booking appointments online.

YOUR GP CARES - see links included on the main page (see below)

We usually close the last Thursday afternoon of every month for staff training.

We can provide a chaperone, hearing loop or interpreter services. If you need any of these services please advise the receptionist when booking your appointment.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, please telephone (01925) 725644 and press 1 between 08:30 and 10:30. Your details will be recorded on the triage list. The Doctor will review your request and decide on the most appropriate course of action. You will be contacted with a decision before 1pm. If, however, you telephone after 10:30, your home visit will have to be dealt with by the duty doctor for the day, and such requests invariably interfere with that doctor's ability to deal with the day's emergency cases. Please note that lack of transport is not generally accepted as a reason for a home visit..

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.